FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2006 NFL PRESS BOX NOTES – WEEK 11
RUN & CATCH ROOKIES: Through the first nine games of the season, the 2006 NFL draft class is accounting for scrimmage yards at a record pace.
Currently, there are nine rookies within reach of 1,000 scrimmage yards (at least 400 yards rushing and receiving) for the season. The record for most rookies with 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season is five, in 1980, 1981 and 1995.
The most rookies with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season:
YEAR TOTAL ROOKIES PLAYER 1980 5 RB Earl Cooper (SF), RB Joe Cribbs (Buf.), RB Curtis Dickey (Bal.), RB Gerry Ellis (GB), RB Billy Sims (Det.) 1981 5 RB Tony Collins (NE), WR Cris Collinsworth (Cin.), RB Joe Delaney (KC), RB Randy McMillan (Bal.), RB George Rogers (NO) 1995 5 RB Terrell Davis (Den.), WR Joey Galloway (Sea.), RB Curtis Martin (NE), RB Rashaan Salaam (Chi.), RB Rodney Thomas (Hou.) 1993 4 RB Jerome Bettis (LA Rams), RB Reggie Brooks (Was.), RB Terry Kirby (Mia.), RB Ronald Moore (Pho.)
2006* 9 WR Marques Colston (NO, 869), RB Joseph Addai (Ind., 758), RB Reggie Bush (NO, 608), RB Laurence Maroney (NE, 604), RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac., 585), RB Leon Washington (NYJ, 509), WR Greg Jennings (GB, 485), RB Jerious Norwood (Atl., 418), RB Wali Lundy (Hou., 415) * Through nine games
SAINTLY ROOKIES: Two New Orleans rookies, wide receiver MARQUES COLSTON (seventh round) and running back REGGIE BUSH (first round) are Saints quarterback DREW BREES’ top two receiving targets.
The threesome has enabled New Orleans to rank as the top passing unit in the NFL (283.0 yards/game). If the Saints finish as the leader in the category with Colston and Bush as their top two receivers (in either catches or yards), they will become the first club in history to do so with two rookies as their leading receivers.
Colston and Bush both rank in the top-10 in the NFL in receptions with 54 and 53, respectively. With 107 total receptions, they currently stand fifth all-time for most receptions by rookie teammates.
A look at the most combined receptions by rookie teammates:
ROOKIES TEAM YEAR RECEPTIONS Anquan Boldin/Bryant Johnson Arizona 2003 136 Bill Groman/Charley Hennigan Houston 1960 116 Andre Johnson/Domanick Davis Houston 2003 113 Kevin Johnson/Darrin Chiaverini Cleveland 1999 110 Marques Colston/Reggie Bush New Orleans 2006 107* * Through nine games
The most combined receiving yards by rookie teammates:
ROOKIES TEAM YEAR YARDS Bill Groman/Charley Hennigan Houston 1960 2,195 Anquan Boldin/Bryant Johnson Arizona 2003 1,815 Kevin Johnson/Darrin Chiaverini Cleveland 1999 1,473 Bobby Johnson/Lionel Manuel NY Giants 1984 1,414 Chris Burford/Johnny Robinson Dallas 1960 1,400 Texans
Marques Colston/Reggie Bush New Orleans 2006 1,221* * Through nine games
Colston’s 869 receiving yards lead the league. With 110 yards this week against Cincinnati, the rookie from Hofstra can surpass BILL GROMAN (978, Houston, 1960) for the most receiving yards in the first 10 games of a career.
The most receiving yards through the first 10 games of a career:
PLAYER TEAM YEAR YARDAGE Bill Groman Houston 1960 978 Harlon Hill Chicago 1954 919 Anquan Boldin Arizona 2003 876 Billy Howton Green Bay 1952 869 Mike Ditka Chicago 1961 869 Marques Colston New Orleans 2006 869* * Through nine games
-- NFL --
ROOKIE SACKS: Through the first 10 weeks of the season, four rookie defenders – Chicago DE MARK ANDERSON (7.5), Denver DE ELVIS DUMERVIL (6.0), Cleveland LB KAMERION WIMBLEY (5.5) and Houston DE MARIO WILLIAMS (4.5) – are on pace to register at least eight sacks for the season. If they accomplish the feat, they will become the second rookie class in history to have four players with eight or more sacks in a season.
Just off the pace are rookie LB A.J. HAWK of Green Bay (4.0) and DE TAMBA HALI of Kansas City (3.5).
Seasons with the most rookies with at least eight sacks:
SEASON TOTAL PLAYERS ROOKIES 2000 4 Shaun Ellis (NYJ), Darren Howard (NO), Corey Simon (Phi.), Brian Urlacher (Chi.) 1986 3 Charles Haley (SF), Tim Harris (GB), Leslie O’Neal (SD) 1990 3 James Francis (Cin.), Renaldo Turnbull (NO), Aaron Wallace (LA Raiders) 2002 3 Dwight Freeney (Ind.), Calos Hall (Ten.), Julius Peppers (Car.)
2006 4* Mark Anderson (Chi.), Elvis Dumervil (Den.), Kamerion Wimbley (Cle.), Mario Williams (Hou.) * On pace through nine games
-- NFL --
ROOKIE PROTECTION: When San Diego travels to Denver for an AFC West first-place matchup Sunday night, Chargers rookie left tackle MARCUS MC NEILL, selected this year in the second round, will be making his ninth consecutive start for the top-scoring offense in the NFL (33.0 points per game).
If the Chargers conclude the season by leading the league in scoring, they will become only the fourth team since 1970 to do so with a rookie tackle starting at least half their games.
Teams that have led the NFL in scoring with a rookie tackle starting at least half the games (since 1970):
TEAM ROOKIE TACKLE PTS./GAME 1985 San Diego Chargers Jim Lachey (LT) 29.2 1987 San Francisco 49ers Harris Barton (RT) 28.7 1996 Green Bay Packers John Michels (LT) 28.5
2006 San Diego Chargers Marcus McNeill (LT) *33.0 *Through nine games